Door operating mechanism



Sept. 22, 1931, E. E. ALLARD ET AL 1,824,109

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 4, 1930 i@ wif Cari/1r R. Ber/ y.

' ATTORNEYJ Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNHTED STATES EVERETTE E. ALLARD AND CURTIS R. BERRY, F HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN PATENT OFFICE.A

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Application led January 4, 1930. Serial No. 418,643.

This invention relates to door control and operating mechanism.

The main objects of Ythis invention are to provide an improved mechanism of this character which may be freely operated without any tendency to bind in movement; to provide a mechanism in which the strains and stresses arebalanced on the fulcrum points, and to provide a generally improved and simplified door control mechanism which will give long and satisfactory service with a minimum of breakage or repair.

An illustrative'embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of the end of a garage or like structure, equipped with vour improved mechanism'. with'the doors shown in open position by full lines, and in 2o closed position by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the. control mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the lines v 3-3 of Fig. 2, lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the lines 4 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. In the construction shown in the drawings a structure 5. such as a garage or the rear end of a closed vehicle body, is shown with a pair of outwardly swinging vertically pivoted doors 6 and 7 mounted on hinges 8 and 9, respectively', so that the outer swinging ends of the-doors may be closed together, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Our improved door control mechanism.

which is specially adapted for this type of 40 door struct-ure, comprises a. metal strip. generally designated at 10 inFig. `1. which forms a mounting base for the mechanism. The medial.l portion 11 of the base is offset with respect to the ends 12 and 13. said ends being di provided'with suitably positioned holes 14, through which attaching bolts may be passed for securing the base member to a suitable support provided therefor immediately above the tops of the doors and preferably in the 5' middle of the door opening. The strip 10 is preferably formed of pressed steel so that it will not break when subjected to twisting strains in the manner of 'cast bases of like character.

The offset portion 11 of the base 10 is provided with a pair of spaced aligned slots 15 andv 16 which are adapted' to slidably and pivotally support a' pair of pivot pins 17 and 18, respectively. The pins 17 and 18 are mounted in a pair of arms 19 and 20, respectively, adjacent the inner ends thereof, which ends are bent transversely inthe same plane and pivotally connected together by a pin 21, which has oountersunk riveted ends. The transversely bent ends 22 and 23 of the 65 arms 19 and 20, respectively, are of such length between their pivotal connection 21 and the pivot pins 17 and 18 that they will swing past center when the pivot pins'17 and 18 are at the outer limits of their respective 7C- slots and thus permit the arms 19 and 2O to be swung to the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1, in which position the pivot pins are at substantially the innermost limits of their respective slots. 7e

The pivot pins 17 and 18 are of like construction and are preferably of case-hardened bolts provided with castellated nuts 24 and 25. respectively, which are secured by Cotter pins 26 and 27, respectively. Spacing 8a and bearing washers 28 and 29, respectively, of frusto conical shape, are provided on the pins 17 and 18, respectively, at the threaded ends of the bolt-s, the bases of said washers havingfr sliding bearing contact on the inner S5 or under side of the offset portion 11 of the base bracket 10. Anchoring clips 30 and 31 are mounted on the pivot pins 17 and 18 between the outer ends of the spacing washers 28 and 29 and the under side of the castellated nuts 24 and 25, respectively. A helical tension spring 32 has its opposite ends secured to these anchoring clips, the proportions of the parts being such that the body of the spring 32 is held in spaced parallel relation to the inner side of the offset portion 11.

The head ends of the pivot bolts 17 and 18 are provided with peripheral grooves to receive the looped ends 33 and 34 of a helical tension spring 35, which preferably has the CII Same strength and yielding characteristics as the spring 32. Spacing Washers 36 and 37 are provided under the heads of the pivot bolts 17 and 18, respectively, for holding the body of the spring 35 in spaced relation to the swinging pivoted ends 22 and 23 ot the arms z19 and Q0. `v`rlhe mounting of the springs 32 and 35 is such that they are spaced equi-distantly on opposite sides of the outer 920' ot angle cli-ps 42 and 43. respectively` which are adapted tobe secured to the inner sides of v the swinging doors 6 and 7. respectively. Getter lreysle are provided in the tips of the transversely bent` ends of the links Ll() and L11 ton-retaining them in place.

In tithe operation of this door control fmecl1anism."thel base' bracket 10 is secured -to ia vsuitable supporti immediately above .the swinging doors (i andf7` and at the mid- "-dl e otthe door opening. -The clips 42 :and 48 are sefured to the inner-sides et the the swinging doors 6 and 7 andftheir point ot fatta'chmentand the length ot' the links '40 and 41 so arranged and proportioned f that' the'doors may be swung to any desired position either a lesser distance than shown -inf Fig. 1 otthe'drawiugs, or agreater distanceR as'desire'd.

.The tensionsprings 32 and constantly '140 urge the pivot pins 17 and A18 toward Ythe ner limitsioi their respective slots.v thus draw- :ing the vouter ends of the arms 19 andQO to 'v'ardY each other. as shown in dotted outline vin Fis-Tf1.- or urging' them outwardly in nroflongation of each other. as shown in fu'll lines ot'- said-tigure denen'dinfr upon which side ot Sthevcenter line the pivotal connection 21 is loca-ted.

Armen the doors arein either theiropen orrlosed positions the pins 17 and 18 are fslightlv, snacedfrom the inner ends ot' the :slots 1.5 and, 16 as clearlv shown bv Figure P). .Also as clearly shown bv Figure 4 there is a small. space between the pins and the sides ot the slots. IArrangement of the yparts in this relation permits the opening otone door parl.tvi'ally betorethe other door begins .to open. '.For. example-when. the right Adoorfisopened 6g from its closed position asshown by breken lines by Figure 1, meveinent ot. the arm'll() will result in amovement of the arms 19 and ...20 `transversely and longitudinally of the i movement of the arm 41 to open the left door, until the play has been eliminated.

This construction provides a toggle action for the arms, in which each arm has a limited independent action ot the other. lhen the doors are closed, as shown in dotted outline in hand -one of them isgrasped by the handle to be pulled open, this door will swing outwardly without disturbing the other door until. the. pivot ,pin .of none arm .has .reached the inner limit ot its slot and transverse play oi"- thepins-fin the slots has been taken up. At this time leverage action is exerted on the ,oppesitey arimcausing it to rotate on its pivot and at the same time slide outwardly in its slot. lNhen the pivotal connection. Q1 between the inner ends of the arms'passes the center line between vvthe pivot pins: 17 andl 18, the `tension springs 32' and 35 exert their action to draw the pivot pins toward each other,l and thereby cause both doors to swing outwardly to their limitot movement.

:'Due tor the equi-distance spacing' of' the springs 32, and 35 on opposite sides of the pivotalfconnection, the toggle Joint is-'tree from any binding such as would result from the use of a single spring.

Although-but :one specific embodiment or this invention-has been herein shown and described, it will be understood. that numerous- "details of the construction shown may be pivot pins on said arms adjacent their con-' nected ends, said pivot pins extending through said 'slots `tor'pivotallv and slidably supporting said arms on said base, a pair of tension springs connecting said pivot pins on Yopposite sides of said basefor urging saifll pins toward the inner ends ot said :slots and a pair of door-connecting links pivoted to the outer ends ot said arms.

2. In a door control mechanism. a base `member having a pair of spaced aligned slots thereinq a. pair .of arms having their inner ends pivoted together and.arranged for. tog- .gle action, pivot V pins -on said arms adjacent their connected ends.said pivot pins extending through said slots for pivotally. and slidably supporting said'arms onsaid base, a .pair

oftension springs connecting the endsofone .of .said pivot pins withy the corresponding ends of the otherrof said pins for urging said g pins to the innersends of said slot-s, the point-s of attachment of saidsprings being spaced equi-distantly` on opposite sides of said base,

--and a pair or door-connecting links pivoted to the -outery ends of .said arms.

3. In a door Control mechanism, a base member comprising a metal strip having the medial portion offset with respect to the ends thereof, said ends being adapted for mounting said base on a support, the offset portion of said strip having a pair of spaced aligned slots therein, a pair of arms having their inner ends pivoted together and arranged for toggle action, pivot pins on said arms adjacent their connected ends, said pivot pins eX- tending thru said slots for pivotally and slidably supporting said arms on said base, a pair of tension springs connecting said pivot pins on opposite sides of said base strip for urging said pins toward the inner ends of said slots, and a pair of door-connecting links pivoted to the outer ends of said arms.

4. In a door control mechanism, a base member having a pair of spaced aligned slots therein, a pair of arms having their inner ends pivoted together and arranged for toggle action, pivot pins on said arms adjacent their connected ends, said pivot pins extending through said slots for pivotally and slidably supporting said arms on said base, a pair of tension springs connecting said pivot pins on opposite sides of said base for urging said pins toward the inner ends of said slots and a pair of door-connecting links pivoted to the outer ends of said arms, and means for permitting opening or closing one door partially Without eiecting movement of the other door.

5. In a door control mechanism, a base member having a pair of spaced aligned siots therein, a pair of arms having their inner ends pivoted together and arranged for toggle action, pivot pins on said arms adjacent their connected ends, said pivot pins extending through said slot-s for pivotally and slidably supporting said arms on said base, a pair of tension springs connecting said pivot pins on opposite sides of said base for urging said pins toward the inner ends of said slots and a pair of door-connecting links pivoted to the outer ends of said arms, the pins being slightly spaced from the inner ends of the slots When the doors are in closed or open position to permit partially' opening or closing one door Without moving the other door.

6. In a door control mechanism, a base member having a pair of spaced aligned slots therein, a pair of arms having their inner ends pivoted together and arranged 'or toggle action, pivot pins on said arms adjacent their connected ends, said pivot pins extending through said slots for pivotally and slidably supporting said arms on said base, a pair ot' tension springs connecting said pivot pins on opposite sides of said base for urging said pins toward the inner ends of said slots and a pair of door-connecting links pivoted to the outer ends of said arms, the pins being 

